1851

There are no hard-and-fast rules when it comes to franchising&#8212;let alone anything in life&#8212;but there are a few standby nuggets of wisdom that every franchisee could stand to know. Here are 10 things to know when deciding to franchise your business. It will probably cost more than you think. Sure, every business is coupled with its own startup costs and incidental expenditures, but there are plenty of hidden cash drains that lie in every franchise. Between legal costs and consulting fees, your expense account could start depleting quickly. Prepare yourself mentally and financially for the commitment that franchising demands. A consistent brand image will be more crucial than ever. When you own a single-unit business, it&#8217;s fairly easy to re-brand or revamp your brand image&#8212;not so with franchising. All campaigns must be universal and consistent, so paint with a broad brush and resist the temptation of following whims. Prepare yourself for a slew of paperwork. Every segment of business sector is padded with red tape and stacks of paperwork, especially franchising. From FDDs to Item 19s, educate yourself on industry jargon and best practices. You&#8217;ll need to know how to do every job. Expecting your staff to do a job and do it well means that you should be able to see things from their perspectives. Whether you shadow a staffer or ask for an education on their roles, knowing how to do every job is crucial when running a franchise. You will be a brand ambassador all day, every day. As a franchisor, you are the personification of your brand, which means that your work is never truly done. Keep in mind that your life will revolve around promoting your brand and representing it&#8212;there are no breaks. You will have less control than ever before. There&#8217;s only one of you, and hopefully your franchise will continue to grow. That said, you will be less involved in your business at a micro level and must concede to becoming a &#8220;big picture&#8221; business owner. Becoming comfortable with this lack of control and learning to trust your staff will be a crucial element of your franchise&#8217;s success. If you think franchising is easy, think again. The initial throes of growing any business are trying, and same goes for franchising. Gray hairs and sleepless nights will become the norm, so make sure you&#8217;re ready to make the commitment to your business. You&#8217;re only as successful as your staff. In order to be successful, you&#8217;ll have to build a solid foundation of trustworthy, hardworking staffers to help make your franchising aspirations a reality. If you can invest time, money and trust in a core group of employees, then your franchise will surely be a success. The first unit will likely be the toughest. Oftentimes, the maiden voyage into franchising is the most trying, as well. Working out all the kinks and devising an optimal management strategy demands trial-and-error. Resilience and a commitment to work intelligently is crucial during this point in the franchising process. You will need to expand your network. If you hope for your business to grow, you need to grow with it. Networking with industry insiders and franchising professionals will help grow the name of your brand and expand your list of contacts.

1851 Franchise

While every journey through franchising is different, there are some standby rules to follow.

This brand page has been paid for by 1851. Content within this page that is paid will showcase a Sponsored icon. This means the brand has engaged 1851 FRANCHISE to write the content. Content without the Sponsored Icon is aggregated media placements the brand earned. Questions can be sent to editorial@1851franchise.com

10 Things to Know when Deciding to Franchise your Business  

10-things-to-know-when-deciding-to-franchise-your-business

Sola Salons

Sola Salons Targets Chicago for Strategic Franchise Growth

sola-salons-targets-chicago-for-strategic-franchise-growth

Melting Pot

Photo of Melting Pot white chocolate fondue

How Melting Pot Franchisees Drive Year-Round Success Through Strategic Promotions and Local Marketing

melting-pot-franchise-year-round-success

Crust Pizza Co.

Crust Pizza Co. - Technology Piece - CTO Nick Fontenot - May 2025 - 1851 Franchise

Crust Pizza Co. Builds the Future of Franchising With Tech-First Strategy

crust-pizza-co-technology-nick-fontenot-cto

Paris Baguette

Paris Baguette’s Recipe for Expansion: Leadership, Community and A Vision for 1,000 Cafés by 2030

paris-baguettes-recipe-for-expansion-leadership-community-and-a-vision-for-1000-cafes-by-2030

Seniors Helping Seniors®

Franchisee Spotlight with Billy and Anita Clark and Seniors Helping Seniors

Heart and Purpose: Couple Launch Seniors Helping Seniors® Franchise in Northern Arizona

heart-and-purpose-couple-launch-seniors-helping-seniors-franchise-in-northern-arizona

Buying a Franchise Masterclass

 Franchise Opportunities

Get Support Buying a Franchise

How to Buy a Franchise White Paper

How to Buy a Franchise

How to Sell Franchises

How to Grow a Franchise

Find a Franchise Supplier

1851 Franchise Opportunities

Franchisor News

Franchisor Power Rankings

FranCamp Mastermind Summit

Franchise Resources

What ALEC-Laffer's Report Means for Franchising

Website Awards

Power Rankings

About 1851

Advertise on 1851

Contact 1851 Editorial

Terms of Use

1851 Login

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

facebook

instagram

twitter

linkedin

youtube

DoorDash Expansion Could Reshape Delivery and Operations for Franchise Brands - 1851 Franchise

DoorDash Expansion Could Reshape Delivery and Operations for Franchise Brands

doordash-acquistions-deliveroo-sevenrooms

Crumbl Franchise Investment - TSG Consumer Partners -  1851 Franchise

TSG Consumer Partners Takes Minority Stake in Crumbl, Signaling Franchise Growth Potential

crumbl-franchise-investment-tsg-consumer

Yum Brands Reports Strong Q1 Results with Big Boost from Taco Bell

yum-brands-reports-strong-q1-results-with-big-boost-from-taco-bell

QSR: McDonald’s Gains Momentum With Chicken Innovation, Value Deals and Franchisee Support

mcdonalds-franchise-recovery-chicken-strategy-value-deals-2025

The Future of Franchising: Trends and Predictions for 2025 and Beyond

the-future-of-franchising-trends-and-predictions-for-2025-and-beyond

Layoffs Surge to Pandemic-Era Highs, Opening Doors for Franchise Growth

layoffs-surge-to-pandemic-era-highs-opening-doors-for-franchise-growth

Restaurant Business: Crumbl Cools Its Expansion, Refocuses on Profitability

restaurant-business-crumbl-cools-its-expansion-refocuses-on-profitability

Franchisee spotlight image with Randy and Sandy Craft, Children's Lighthouse logo on blue background

The Crafts’ Successful Journey from New Parents to Children’s Lighthouse Franchisees

the-crafts-successful-journey-from-new-parents-to-childrens-lighthouse-franchisees

Franchisee spotlight image with photo of Robert Trujillo and UWRG logo on blue background

How Robert Trujillo Expanded His Construction Business With UWRG

how-robert-trujillo-expanded-his-construction-business-with-uwrg

District Taco Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2025

franchise-deep-dive-district-tacos-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data

The Ultimate Guide to Selling Franchises: Building Your Brand’s Growth Machine

ultimate-guide-to-selling-franchises

10 Things to Know when Deciding to Franchise your Business

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS